Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Rumen Radev: Our ancestors left us the duty to defend Bulgarian national interests

Photo: BGNES

Veliko Tarnovo is the centre of the celebrations of the 116th anniversary of the declaration of Bulgarian Independence, which was proclaimed on September 22 1908 in a manifesto by Prince Ferdinand I in the Church of the Forty Martyrs and later announced at the Tsarevets Fortress.
The President of the National Assembly, Raya Nazaryan, will take part in the celebrations in the old capital. 

At 10.30, the Bulgarian flag is hoisted with a military ceremony at the Tsarevets fortress. At 11.30, a large festive procession will march from the square in front of Tsarevets to the Town Hall, and at 12.30, the military orchestras participating in the 17th International Festival of Military Brass Bands in Veliko Turnovo will perform in front of the Central Post Office. At 19:30, there will be a ceremonial fireworks display and inspection on the city's Tsar Assen I Square.

"Driven by the belief that only an independent Bulgaria could be truly free, 116 years ago in the old capital city of Veliko Tarnovo, our ancestors rejected the vassalage to which our country was subjected by the Ottoman Empire and restored the Bulgarian people's faith in their own strength. This historic act taught us a priceless lesson that still holds true today - defending Bulgaria's national interests, rather than succumbing to compromises or blindly following foreign will, is the way to Bulgaria's worthy progress," President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook.

The anniversary is being celebrated with events across the country.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria Marks 117 years of independence with nationwide celebrations

Bulgaria marked 117 years since the declaration of its independence on Sunday, with celebrations taking place across the country. The former capital, Veliko Tarnovo, was at the centre of the commemorations. In Plovdiv, the anniversary was..

published on 9/22/25 5:38 PM
Natalia Kiselova

Speaker of Parliament: Only united can we build a prosperous country

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova, took part in the solemn celebration of the 117th anniversary of Bulgaria’s declaration of independence in Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo is the focal point of this year's celebrations of..

published on 9/22/25 12:53 PM

Bulgarians around the world celebrate Independence Day

The Bulgarian-Swiss association Kanatitsa — a guardian of Bulgarian traditions, language, and culture — sent greetings via their Facebook page to Bulgarians around the world for 22 September, Bulgarian Independence Day. "On 22 September, Bulgaria..

published on 9/22/25 11:52 AM